Early Verdict
The Kindle Colorsoft impresses thanks to its color display, elegant design and excellent features. Though expensive, this color Kindle might be too tempting to overlook.
Pros
- +
Bold and sharp color images
- +
Comfortable, lightweight design
- +
Wireless charging
Cons
- -
Pricier than other Kindles
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The Kindle Colorsoft ($279) is the first color Kindle and something I’ve been waiting years for. Thanks to its display, you can now enjoy book covers and comics in all their colorful glory. Best of all, this Kindle doesn’t sacrifice image quality or performance. It’s effectively the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, only with a color display.
I got some hands-on time with the Kindle Colorsoft and instantly fell in love with the e-reader. The current Kindle Paperwhite (2021) has been my daily driver for reading books for years. However, I’m ready to ditch that device for the new Colorsoft. Though it’s certainly pricey, it’s the Kindle I’ve always wanted.
I’ll have a full review of the Kindle Colorsoft soon. In the meantime, check out my initial impressions of the new e-reader below. Also, be sure to read our Kindle Scribe (2024) hands-on piece, along with everything you need to know about all four new Kindle models.
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Kindle Colorsoft hands-on review: Cheat sheet
- What is it? The Kindle Colorsoft is Amazon’s first e-reader with a color display.
- Who is it for? It’s for folks who want to read color comics, see a novel’s cover in color or create color highlights in books.
- What does it cost? The Kindle Colorsoft costs $279 and packs 32GB of storage. You can pre-order it now from Amazon. There's also a bundle for $362 (currently discounted to $327) which includes the Colorsoft, a cover and a charging dock.
- What do we like? The color display, fast performance and lightweight design.
- What don’t we like? The high price compared to most Kindles.
Kindle Colorsoft hands-on review: Specs
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Kindle Colorsoft |
|---|---|
| Price | $279 |
| Display | 7-inches (300 ppi B&W; 150 ppi color) |
| Storage | 32GB |
| Front light | 12 White LEDs; 13 Amber LEDs |
| Battery life | 8 weeks (rated) |
| Ports | 1x USB-C |
| Dimensions | 7 x 5 x 0.3 inches |
| Weight | 7.7 ounces |
Kindle Colorsoft hands-on review: The ups
Gorgeous color display
Like the refreshed Kindle Paperwhite, the Kindle Colorsoft has a 7-inch 300 ppi display. Unlike that model, this e-reader can display color content. This is a feature many have asked for, and it’s about as good as I could have hoped for.
Even though color images display at 150 ppi instead of 300 ppi when viewing black and white content, said images appear nice and sharp to my eyes. I flipped through a few comics and was impressed by the sharpness of drawings and text alike. Even though I could zoom in, I didn’t need to since everything on the screen was so clearly defined. If you love reading digital comics like I do, you’re going to have a blast binge-reading your favorite books on the Colorsoft.
I’ll need more eyes-on time with this e-reader before rendering a final verdict, but based on what I saw, Amazon knocked hit a room run with the display on its first color e-reader.
Classic Kindle design
Except for its color display, the Kindle Colorsoft is virtually indistinguishable from the new Kindle Paperwhite. It has the same dimensions and weight, features the same flush display and feels light in your hands. Ironically enough, the Kindle Colorful only comes in black, unlike the Paperwhite which comes in three different colors (Raspberry, Jade and Black).
The Kindle Paperwhite’s form factor is arguably perfect, so I’m glad Amazon didn’t do anything drastic with the Colorsoft’s design.
Excellent features
The Kindle Colorsoft’s similarities to the Paperwhite Signature Edition don’t end with its design. For instance, this e-reader is also waterproof, supports wireless charging, has an auto-adjusting front light, and has a claimed eight weeks' worth of battery life. And like the Paperwhite Signature Edition, the Colorsoft has 32GB of storage.
Considering the Colorsoft’s price, it’s good to see it packs so many extra features beyond just a color display. Since color files are larger than black and white, it’s good that this device has 32GB of storage. I also like the fact it’s waterproof and supports wireless charging. As for battery life, I’ll need to test the device to see if Amazon’s claims are true.
Kindle Colorsoft hands-on review: The downs
Pricey
I won’t know if the Kindle Colorsoft has glaring flaws until I’ve had more time with it. Right now, the biggest point of contention I see is its lofty price point.
The Kindle Colorsoft is $279, which is $120 more than the starting price of the new Kindle Paperwhite and $80 more than the Paperwhite Signature Edition. Though I’d be okay paying an extra $80 for a color Kindle, that might not be enough justification for some—which is perfectly reasonable. You might want to wait for Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday to get the Colorsoft at a discount.
I should note that, based on the specs Amazon provided, there only appears to be one model of the Kindle Colorsoft.
Kindle Colorsoft hands-on review: Outlook
Despite its price, the Kindle Colorsoft should be a perfect device for those who want a color e-reader but don’t want to step out of the Amazon ecosystem. Thanks to its colorful display, svelte design and quality-of-life features, I expect this device will be a winner this holiday season.
I’ll have a full review of the Kindle Colorsoft for you soon. Will it find a spot in our best Kindles list? Stay tuned to find out!
